Prologue: Stranded

A/N: It's been a moment hasn't it?

Hina stepped along the winding park path. A quiet breath left her lips as she muttered to herself. Something about how bothersome this task was. Delinquents had walked, trekked through this forgotten route, and taken an old key from a ruin off of the path.

The old key on her person was antiquated in appearance and had an odd amethyst like orb which pointed in the direction of the site it belonged to with a red shard of gem.

Now why her? Obviously, the Pandemonium Society President wanted to burden her with another task. When the delinquents who had gone were asked to take back they'd vehemently refused. Now she saw why the path had overgrown. Brambles and bush had long overtaken the path. Still they had pushed through the route and so Hina had pressed on.

The cries of birds, the buzzing of insects, the humidity, and the moisture of the underbrush was her only company. If only the cost of repair for the campus weren't so high these paths may have been maintained. Though the budget was the budget. The result of this budget pushed against her in the present.

Against the student council her authority was a rubber stamp the papers coming across her desk out of her authority. Still if she had more funds allocated to their budget then perhaps the prefect may have been able to carry out their tasks. Hina pushed and rolled a fallen log off of the path.

How did those few delinquents manage to finish this route? The route had become rather foreboding. The looming overhead canopy caught most of the light and what was left on the path was dead fallen leaves and an increasingly difficult to follow dirt path.

In her hand the key pointed the direction she needed to go in. Once it was placed back in the ruins she'd have to find her own way back. Yet, she had faith in herself to not get lost afterwards.

And after a morning of walking and navigating the route there was a stony ruin. The fringes of which were old columns standing with moss and vines rising up their structure. The exterior of the building had various cracks and an architecture unlike anything seen in modern Kivotos. Fortunately despite being in Gehenna's territory this area was so isolated that none of regular troublemakers could be bothered to head out and destroy this structure.

Hina pulled out the key which she had pocketed. The red shard still pointed toward the main building. Her steps no longer pressed against a dirt path instead a moss covered hard-surface walked her toward the steps and entrance nestled between two cracked columns. The door, already slightly ajar. This is likely where the key had rested for years. How many Hina had no idea?

Hundreds, perhaps, thousands even. The doorway opened as she pressed against it. Slowly the interior revealed itself. Almost barren aside from a few old seat stands and fallen segments of ceiling. The holes in which enabled sunlight in to brighten the interior. Without sunlight, torchlight was needed

There in the center of the floor was a column stand which had held this key. The head prefect's steps echoed in the ruins. The sounds of light breezes broke the almost complete silence then her eyes caught the surface of a water-like surface. Beyond the column stand against the back wall shimmered something transparent. A sense of unease came to Hina. What was it? Something not meant to be seen.

At the stand from which key had laid the red gem still pointed forwards. She followed its direction as the shimmering surface approached then solidified. A doorway, though there was no building beyond this main structure. The air was warm yet Hina noticed her breath fog the air. There was a single keyhole in this metal doorway. The frame which appeared with the doors had two devils above either door.

They beckoned the ones who saw it to open the doors. "What should I do?" She asked aloud. A mute silence responded. This story of a door appearing with this key was unbelievable. "Sensei when I held this key up a door appeared." She thought of what that sounded like. Then to get here you had to walk an abandoned and unmaintained trail.

If this was real, she put the key into the keyhole. There was resistance. Hina breathed in turning the key clockwise, the audible sound of tumblers grinding came to her ear. She pulled the key out and the door swung open with it. A black ichor spilled out the corridor beyond. Hina jumped back and felt it rap softly around her feet.

Then it pulled her in- the doors remained ajar, and nothing could be heard besides the light breezes and the sound of the birds outside the building.

Now beyond the doorway it was like being pulled through a kaleidoscope. Hinas wings pulled behind her until the air no longer caught in them. Her world had spun and spun until she found herself lying against the pavement.

She brushed her hair out of her eyes, stood up, and focused her vision. There was the key again in her pocket and she pulled it out. The red gem spun and pointed her forwards. "What is this strange key?" She'd found herself in a town, a city in actuality. She walked forwards and the Gem pointed her right, straight down a road then left across a street.

There was one business open on this road. She put the key away and walked toward it. As she approached a girl and a man flew out of the building's front window. "Truly, some things never change." She readied her MG in an instant. She read the scene. Following after men exited the building. Thugs and their boss. The girl appeared to be surrounded.

Hina observed the red colored girl rapidly dispatch the goons. The man looked unimpressed. "You were worth every cent. Truly, you were." Sarcasm, apparent in his voice. Police had heard the commotion sirens in the distance.

"Well, Red, I think we can all say it's been an eventful evening, and as much as I'd love to stick around." He raised his cane, she'd seen a weapon like, 'red' hadn't. Hina ran forwards.

The man shot a flare towards red and began to run off, until Hina tackled him from the side. "What?!" He yelled as he fell to the ground. Bowled over, his gun struck from hand with a precise kick, in a moment there was a large gun barrel in his face. "Wait!" He shouted and put up his hands. "Don't shoot!" One hand covered his face.

As the smoke cleared, Red saw the scene of Hina pinning the larger man down with one foot on his chest. His escape foiled the black haired girl 'folded' her gun up and placed it on her back. "Umm- thank you." To 'Red' the girl that had caught this thief appeared otherworldly. Having two large wings on her sides, dark horns, and a dark massive halo.

Both were cracked with a purple glow spilling out of said cracks. Hina turned to her for a second and then looked back to the man. "No problem." She quietly responded back. The man squirmed and nervously chuckled a bit.

He gazed up past the MG barrel to an impassive expression. "Can't we talk about this? Purple?" He saw the broken moon overhead. "Look, my ride's about to take off and I wouldn't want to leave a lady waiting." The sirens got closer. With her head shaking no, he sighed in resignation. There was the roar of an engine. An airship rose from behind the building he'd run towards and flew off.

Then an older woman came up to them, walking towards them from the sidewalk and the man shook his head. A sigh came out of his breath as Red looked excited. "A huntress! Can I have your autograph?!" Truly this 'Red' is an excitable type Hina mused.

Hina stood outside of the interrogation room. There had been a brief exchange between her and an older man with white hair. He thanked her for capturing that man, a notorious criminal called Roman. Then he left her to go into the room where Red was. She had a few moments to gather her thoughts. The key strangely enough was her only hope.

She looked around at the barren hall, the only noise being the ticking of a clock. The sound proofed room didn't let any noise spill out. She leaned against a wall. Tracing a finger against the surface she thought of what could be happening back in Gehenna. She had to get back. "What a turn of events."

This likely wasn't a dream. If had not awakened from this yet she had to merely find her way back. She stood up right, the door opened to her side and Red came out. The young girl appeared excited and happy. "I can't believe I'm going to Beacon! Ohmygosh."

She glanced around and saw Hina. "Oh, hello. Um, we haven't given our names. Erm- I'm Ruby Rose," Ruby held her hand out. "-nice to meet you." Hina shook hands with Ruby.

The handshake was a gentle one. "I'm Sorasaki Hina. It's nice to meet you Ruby." She withdrew her hand and Ruby smiled.

Ruby bounced up. "I hope that we can be friends! You looked so cool. The dust cleared and the bad guy was on the ground." She looked at Hina's gun. "Is that your weapon?" Hina nodded. "Isn't it heavy how can you hold it with one hand?"

After a bit of small talk Ruby calmed down slightly. "So where are you going?" Hina looked at her.

"I don't have anywhere to go. The situation is troublesome to explain." Ruby nodded and a smile came to her expression.

She walked down the hallway and motioned for Hina to follow. "I got into Beacon so can take you there too." Hina followed behind her. "When they hear you took down that criminal they'll have to let you in too!" A bit of relief came to Hina at least she had somewhere to stay for now. And more time to collect her thoughts and calm down.

…

The evening had long come down on the day. Ruby had been given a hotel room she invited to stay in for the night. The sounds of cars and some regular street noises came to Hina's ears. The experience was all so foreign and strange to her.

She hadn't got an opportunity to gather her thoughts. Now she sat in a chair and she glanced at Ruby who'd quickly fallen asleep. The fatigue of the day's events must've quickly caught up to her.

Even now Hina felt drowsy; she was supposed to have walked back to Gehenna after that long trek. Now she reached into her pocket. The key that had brought her here remained with her. It's red gem inset pointing in a direction. She put it back in her pocket. A breath left her lip. The seat felt quite comfortable against her back.

Makoto she thought of. "Even with all of her scheming this likely wasn't the chairwoman's intent." She thought the key. "If it brought me hopefully this key will show me the way back to Kivotos." Then looking across at the bed to Ruby. "It directed me to her. Does it mean she'll help me get back." And the prefect head thought of her position. "The prefect team can manage for time. Though I can't waste any time."

She resolved herself if this situation seemed hopeless. She imagined if sensei could message her, his words only could have been ones of encouragement. That thought in her mind she allowed drowsiness to overcome herself. She laid back and closed her eyes. Slowly the halo above her head faded.

Her gun rested on the side of the chair she sat on as the dim room and faint noises all dissolved until she found herself asleep. If only she woke up in her dorm in the morning.

Much to her disappointment Hina woke up in that chair. A bit of sleep in her eyes she made her way to the restroom in the hotel and washed up a bit. She'd have to find another set of clothes. Her current set was becoming a bit uncomfortable. Heading back to the main room and bedroom Ruby was still asleep.

Checking the time it still was quite early. Feeling a bit drowsy she went over to the small kitchen area, looked around a bit, and found some coffee grounds. And then started a bit of coffee to start the morning with.

The warmth of the drink slightly soothed her nerves. Still it was rather early and looking at a sleeping Ruby, her companion at the time she looked around the kitchen. There were few ingredients to prepare a breakfast. After mostly sipping down her coffee she got to work preparing an omelet. Using what meat there was with the sparse selection of vegetables. As the meal was finished Ruby woke.

Hina turned down the heat and split the portions between a couple of plates. "Good morning, Ruby." Hina looking to the waking girl who quickly sat up at the scent of a fresh cooked breakfast

"Good morning." Ruby was in her pajamas while Hina hadn't changed since yesterday. The red girl appeared beside the counter top. "Did you cook this for me?" She eyed the fluffy omelet bits of onion lightly browned with pieces of diced ham. Hina gave an affirmative hum. "Thank you!" Ruby took the plate to the small room dedicated to the TV. It had a small table to sit and eat at.

Hina meanwhile ate while watching Ruby from the kitchen area. The counter top had a couple of stools she used to sit down at while calming her mind. Perhaps Ruby's pleasant reaction to food calmed her slightly as she breathed out.

Today they'd head out to Beacon. The key in her pocket pointed out from this room. And she had no recourse to blindly following this key's direction. Her hands shook slightly at the thought as the day started.

A/N: Got my wisdom teeth removed while writing this, went through a couple of jobs to get my current setup. Hopefully you've enjoyed the story with little curves I've put into it. And read Umineko which has seen me have a change of heart. Now I'll publish this before it gets away from me.